"If a guy makes a mistake with the bases loaded and one out, the next guy gets a hit," said senior shortstop Bryan Blaskovitz, who's hitting .559. "This whole year we've been constantly picking each other up like that. If one guy falls, we will never let him stay down."

The SICA West champ's quarterfinal opponent is Schaumburg. Tyler Burback tops the Saxons (27-9) with a .387 average but is followed closely by Eric Mahler, Rob Serpico and Rob Zavila.

The game's pitching matchup will be a dandy if Otteman faces Schaumburg sophomore ace Grant Monroe (8-2), son of former White Sox first-round pick Larry Monroe.

Seventh-ranked Barrington (33-6) puts its 17-game winning streak on the line against Sacred Heart-Griffin (34-5) of Springfield.

Waubonsie Valley (29-11), which opens the quarterfinals against Bartonville Limestone, will try to make it past the first day for a likely Saturday start from All-Stater Mike Bowden.